Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
{{Short description|Wildlife sanctuary in Massachusetts, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
| coords = {{coord|42|25|43|N|73|13|57|W|region:US-MA_dim:2000|display=inline,title}}
| type = Wildlife sanctuary
| location = 309 Holmes Rd
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, US
| area = {{convert|253|acre|ha}}
| created = 1975
| founder =
| operator = Massachusetts Audubon Society
| other_info =
| website = {{Official website|https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows}}
}}
Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary is a {{convert|253|acre|km2|adj=on}} wildlife sanctuary located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The sanctuary, managed by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, is flanked by the Housatonic River on its southwestern border and contains hiking trails suitable for birdwatching, observing other wildlife, and scenic viewing.{{cite web |title=Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary |url=https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows |website=Massachusetts Audubon Society|access-date=26 November 2023}}{{cite web |title=Trails at Canoe Meadows |url=https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows/trails |website=Massachusetts Audubon Society|access-date=26 November 2023}} The sanctuary also contains a {{convert|4.5|acre|ha|adj=on}} community garden, from which local residents may rent garden plots measuring {{convert|300|ft2|m2}}.{{cite web |title=Community Gardens at Canoe Meadows |url=https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows/community-gardens |website=Massachusetts Audubon Society |access-date=26 November 2023}}
History
The sanctuary was founded in 1975, when Mrs. Cooley Graves Crane donated her Pittsfield estate to the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Early historical documents indicate that the Mohican tribe often landed their canoes along the Housatonic River in this area. This practice was a source of inspiration for Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., who named his nearby summer home "Canoe Meadow" in homage to these activities.{{cite news |last1=Dobrowolski |first1=Tony |title=Over time, the 'baronial territory' known as Holmesdale has shrunk |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/business/over-time-the-baronial-territory-known-as-holmesdale-has-shrunk/article_499182ab-0016-5c1f-80df-8044696ab7f0.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126030632/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/business/over-time-the-baronial-territory-known-as-holmesdale-has-shrunk/article_499182ab-0016-5c1f-80df-8044696ab7f0.html |archive-date=26 November 2023 |newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle |date=22 October 2019 |access-date=17 December 2023 |language=en}}{{cbignore}} The name of the sanctuary also originates from this historical context.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Thom|title=All quiet at Canoe Meadows |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/all-quiet-at-canoe-meadows/article_520420e5-06ac-5b57-b234-9268fae30002.html |access-date=26 November 2023 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |date=19 January 2012 |language=en}}
Hiking trails
The sanctuary contains two main hiking trails, each of which is relatively flat.
Sacred way Trail loops through the southwest portion of the sanctuary and is sometimes flooded from heavy rains and beaver activity.
The Wolf Pine Trail forms a loop through the central and eastern areas of the sanctuary. At the trail's eastern point, hikers can extend their journey by following the Owl Trail. This trail expands the Wolf Pine Trail's extent, beginning at one spot on Wolf Pine and rejoining it at another.{{cite web |title=Canoe Meadows Trail Map |url=https://www.massaudubon.org/content/download/6949/file/canoe_meadows-trails.pdf?inLanguage=eng-US&version=2 |access-date=28 November 2023}}
Projects
The Massachusetts Audubon Society indicates one recently completed as well as one ongoing project associated with the sanctuary.
The first project involved the restoration of flow of Sackett Brook, a tributary of the Housatonic River, by removal of the Sackett Brook dam, which was constructed in the 1930s, artificially blocking the tributary's flow into the Housatonic. The dam was successfully removed and the tributary restored in November 2013.{{cite web |title=Sackett Brook Restoration Project at Canoe Meadows |url=https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows/projects/sackett-brook-restoration |website=Massachusetts Audubon Society}}{{cite news |last1=Mayberg |first1=Nathan |title=Removal of Pittsfield's Sackett Brook Dam makes way to return area to 'natural state' |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/removal-of-pittsfields-sackett-brook-dam-makes-way-to-return-area-to-natural-state/article_6eac6339-48c4-5257-af56-1a23792dcfd3.html |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |date=10 November 2013 |language=en}}
The second project is ongoing and involves cleanup of toxic PCB contaminants from the adjacent Housatonic River and the sanctuary grounds itself.{{cite web |title=Housatonic River Cleanup |url=https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows/projects/housatonic-river-cleanup |website=Massachusetts Audubon Society}} Once initiated, this project is estimated to require 13 years to complete.{{cite web |title=Conservation Projects at Canoe Meadows |url=https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows/projects |website=Massachusetts Audubon Society}}
Gallery
File:20230415 mallard canoe meadows PD19765.jpg|Mallard hen in West Pond
File:20230415 mallard canoe meadows PD19761.jpg|Mallard drake in West Pond
File:20240319 eastern bluebird canoe meadows PD204784.jpg|Eastern Bluebird
File:Wood duck half asleep @ canoe meadows.jpg|Wood duck
File:20220923 white tailed deer alert at sunset PND1625.jpg|White-tailed deer, sunset
File:20240319 hooded merganser canoe meadows PD204913.jpg|Hooded merganser in West Pond
File:20230415 painted turtles canoe meadows PD19797 2.jpg|Painted turtles
File:20230321 canada geese canoe meadows pooping PD06562.jpg|Canada geese
File:20220923 black capped chickadee posing at canoe meadows PND1343-DeNoiseAI-standard-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg|Black-capped chickadee
File:20220625 great blue heron canoe meadows.jpg|Great blue heron in West Pond
File:20240709 common yellowthroat canoe meadows PD205091 04.jpg|Common Yellowthroat with prey.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary], Massachusetts Audubon Society
{{Protected areas of Massachusetts}}
Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of the United States
Category:Massachusetts Audubon Society
Category:Protected areas of Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Category:Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Category:Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Category:Bird sanctuaries of the United States